Thoughts on politics, faith, sports and other random topics from a red state sympathizer in indigo-blue Portland, Oregon.

Thursday, March 23, 2006

When will Kulongoski wake up?

With his track record, probably somewhere around December.

As if his recent losses in the union endorsement race weren't enough, we get word today that Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski has the sixth-worst approval rating of any governor in the country. According to Survey USA, Kulongoski has the approval of just 36 percent of Oregonians, compared to a 56 percent disapproval rating.

The governors below him include Taft of Ohio, who is in the middle of a scandal; Blanco of Louisiana, who -- how shall I say this? -- wasn't exactly stellar in her Hurricane Katrina performance; and Schwarzenegger of California, who is in the midst of a bruising reelection campaign in the deep-blue sunshine state.

What should really frighten Kulongoski is the numbers out of Portland, which are only a few points better than the state as a whole -- 38 percent approval, 55 percent disapproval -- and the numbers among independents (34-55). Those are George W. Bush numbers.

It seems the perfect political storm is brewing, and with hard-left Democrat Jim Hill sounding like a plausible alternative to Kulongoski, Jason Atkinson is the likely beneficiary.

2 Comments:

You Atkinson fans are always dreaming up scenarios that benefit your boy wonder, but sorry to say, Gov. K's low approval isn't a ticket to the Guv mansion for Jason. Unfortunately, Hill and Sorenson will split the anti-Ted vote and he'll squeak by on name recognition alone.

The real beneficiary is Ben Westlund and if your boy somehow pulls off the impossible by winning the primary, Westlund could end up as Governor.

Regarding Westlund, I (surprise!) disagree. I think if you look at Westlund's policies, they appeal to a more liberal mindset, so I think his candidacy (assuming he gets on the ballot) will draw more votes from the Democrat. I agree that Teddy K will probably win the primary, though it's not the sure thing I thought it was a month ago.